Oregon
Oregon’s top high school boys basketball players: Meet the best forwards in 6A (Part 2)
With the 2025-26 Oregon high school basketball season past the midway point, we’re taking a position-by-position look at some of the best boys players in the state.
We continue our look at the top forwards in 6A. Part 2 of the list focuses on the best forwards and wings in the Three Rivers League, Central Valley Conference and Southwest Conference. (Part 1 of the list featured the standout forwards from the PIL, Metro League, Pacific Conference and Mt. Hood Conference.)
We asked every 6A coach in the state to tell us about their star players through the first half of the season. These lists were compiled based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond.
Think you belong on this list? Encourage your coach to respond to requests for information about the team! We will continue to add to these lists throughout the month.
(Note: North Medford coach Scott Plankenhorn and South Medford coach James Wightman declined to identify any standout players on their rosters.)
All statistics are as of mid-January. Check back soon for the poll in which we’ll ask fans to vote for which of these forwards is the best of the best. If you have a photo of a player you would like to share, email jhumburg@advancelocal.com.
BEST FORWARDS IN 6A OREGON BOYS BASKETBALL
Logan Baertsch Kovalchick, jr., Lakeridge
Baertsch Kovalchick received all-Three Rivers League honorable mention as a sophomore. He’s averaging 12 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in league play this season, and he leads the team in one of Pacers coach Jimmy Watts’ favorite categories — charges taken. “He is one of our best all-around players on the team who can score, play defense and do all of the hustle plays that keep us in games,” Watts said.
Quinton Bailey, sr., Tigard
Bailey is a first-year letterman who has been invaluable to the Tigers. “He leads the team in scoring at the midway point, and he leads the team in 3-pointers made,” Tigard coach Stu Bailey said.
London Butler, so., Sprague
Butler played on the JV team as a freshman. Now? “He is a starter and captain of the team,” Olympians coach Tyler Lewis said. Butler is averaging seven points and five rebounds per game.
Gerrit Cupp, sr., Sheldon
Cupp is averaging seven points, five rebounds and two steals per game. “He brings toughness, athleticism and elite defensive ability to our team,” Irish coach Brian Brancato said. “He is often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player and consistently makes a major impact on that end of the floor.” It’s all part of his team-first attitude. “He stands out as a selfless, caring teammate who will do whatever the team needs to win,” Brancato said.
Tyson Donnerberg, jr., West Linn
Donnerberg is averaging 11.4 points and six rebounds per game. “Tyson is a slasher who can get to the paint with the ball,” Lions coach Travis Myers said. “He has sneaky athleticism that shows up when he is attacking rebounds.”
Brayden Fleener, sr., South Salem
Fleener is the Saxons’ all-time leader in blocked shots. He’s averaging 2.5 per game this season, along with six points, seven rebounds and 1.5 steals. “Brayden is the backbone of our pressure package defensively,” South Salem coach Kip Ioane said. He received honorable mention all-Central Valley Conference as a junior.
Kai Holmes, sr., Sheldon
Irish coach Brian Brancato describes Holmes as “a 6-foot-6 wing who brings versatility, skill and a high basketball IQ to our lineup. He is a talented scorer who can shoot and score at all three levels, while also making a strong impact defensively with his length and instincts.” Holmes is averaging 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block per game. His attitude is even more impressive than his numbers, according to his coach. “He stands out as a dependable teammate and person who competes and does whatever is needed to help the team succeed,” Brancato said.
Lane Isham, jr., Sprague
“Lane was a swing player for us last season and is now a starter,” Olympians coach Tyler Lewis said. He’s averaging 10 points and five rebounds per game.
Blake Lampert, jr., West Linn
Lampert is averaging 12.5 points per game and has, in the words of Lions coach Travis Myers, “stepped up” as other starters have missed time because of injury. “He is a smooth driver of the ball and is a skilled finisher at the rim,” Myers said. “He is a long 6-foot-2 and is tough to stay in front of.”
Takeo McCrae, sr., Tualatin
McCrae joined the Timberwolves after transferring from Millennium High School in Arizona. “He is one of the best on-ball defenders and has the ability to score 15 points per game,” Tualatin coach Bubba Lemon said.
Kyle Nichols, sr., Lakeridge
Nichols can catch fire from the outside, such as when he nailed five 3-pointers to help the Pacers beat Tigard. He’s averaging 10.7 points per game. “Kyle is an extremely good shooter and helps add instant offense from beyond the arc,” Lakeridge coach Jimmy Watts said. “His ability to stretch the floor and his basketball IQ help add a huge plus to our offense anytime he is on the floor.” That’s not all. “In addition to his basketball abilities, he is the ultimate teammate that everyone respects,” Watts said.
Cameron Perry, sr., South Eugene
Perry, who received all-Southwest Conference honorable mention as a junior, is averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game while simultaneously having responsibilities in the paint and handling the ball. “Cameron is the heart of our team in a lot of ways as he is an incredibly hard worker, dedicated teammate and positive influence on everyone around him,” Axe coach George Zaninovich said. As of midseason, Perry was shooting 46 percent from 3-point range on more than 60 attempts. “He is hoping to get his shot at a local community college,” Zaninovich said.
Liam Rigney, sr., Lake Oswego
Rigney is a returning first-team all-Three Rivers League player. He is the Lakers’ leading scorer at 22.5 points per game, and he gets them in a variety of ways. “He’s one of the most talented scorers in the state,” Lake Oswego coach Tully Wagner said. “Liam is incredibly efficient from 2 at 59 percent but also knocks down 1.5 3’s per game.” He’s also the team’s leading rebounder at 7.3 per game and serves as a team captain and leader. “Liam has a ton of college interest at various levels and is trying to decide where best to play next season,” Wagner added.
Alarion Scott, jr., Oregon City
Scott made the all-Three Rivers League second team as a sophomore. He’s averaging 10 points per game this season. “Alarion is a versatile inside/outside player who is an efficient scorer and offensive rebounder,” Oregon City assistant coach Colton Sundquist said.
Ryan Skinner, sr., McNary
Skinner is averaging nine points and four rebounds per game, and he’s shooting 60 percent from the field. “Ryan is the heart and soul of our team,” Celtics coach Ryan Kirch said. “He is tough and competitive and does all the dirty work teams need to be successful.”
Jack Tycast, sr., West Linn
Tycast has been one of the Lions’ saviors with several key players sidelined. “He has been a steady presence through all the injuries,” West Linn coach Travis Myers said. “He can score inside, can knock down the 3. Able to defend multiple positions and rebound at a high level.” Tycast is averaging 13 points per game.
Brady Watts, so., Lakeridge
Watts is one of the Pacers’ tallest players at 6-foot-4. He missed eight games early in the season with an AC joint strain. “Brady is settling in and becoming the key contributor we saw during the summer and fall,” Lakeridge coach Jimmy Watts said. “He provides essential size and rebounding we were missing for much of the season.” His physical presence was vital in a win against Roosevelt, when he recorded nine rebounds. He has also had some big games on offense, such as a 15-point performance to help the Pacers beat West Linn.
Calvin Yoder, sr., South Eugene
Yoder is averaging 13 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. “Calvin is a forward with a great mid-range game and can hit threes with consistency,” Axe coach George Zaninovich said. “He is an emerging leader who has battled through injuries and continues to work as hard as anyone.” Yoder received honorable mention all-Southwest Conference as a junior.
Branson Young, so., Grants Pass
Young suffered a broken foot before his freshman season, and he played the second half of the campaign for the JV team. “We thought he would contribute this year, but he has exceeded expectations,” Cavemen coach Nate Olson said. “He has become a regular starter and key contributor.” Young is averaging nine points and five rebounds per game. “His high energy, high motor is tough for opponents to keep up with and makes him one of the best offensive rebounders in our league,” Olson said.
For complete coverage of Oregon high school sports, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit OregonLive’s high school sports section throughout the season.
BLUE RIVER, Ore. (KATU) — The founder of a former disaster relief nonprofit is being sued for allegedly diverting nearly $837,000 in donations and grants for personal gain.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed the lawsuit Thursday against the founder and executive director of Cascade Relief Team (CRT), Marcus Brooks. In the complaint, Rayfield calls CRT “a sham.”
Brooks is accused of stealing donations and government grants meant for disaster relief following wildfires and flooding in 2020, and using it for personal expenses including casino visits, travel, vehicles, and more.
CRT was founded in 2020 and was hired for cleanup and relief services following the Labor Day Wildfires that burned over 1 million acres across Oregon.
In Blue River, an unincorporated community in the McKenzie River Valley, the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire destroyed nearly 800 homes and burned more than 173,000 acres.
I am angry that my community was taken advantage of
Just months after the fire, long-time Blue River resident Melanie Stanley said CRT stepped in and promised help to the community.
“For us, it was…like a savior at that point,” Stanley said.
Stanley was the manager for the Blue River Resource Center and worked for Brooks to help facilitate recovery efforts. She said CRT operations slowly became questionable.
“None of us knew the level at which all of this stuff that finally came out was at,” Stanley said. “We knew that there was some stuff that had started to look hinky or feel hinky, or there was just some lack of communication that was happening. There were some other things that were happening, and so we just all were kind of guarded.”
In fall of 2023 the nonprofit was reported to have run out of money, and Brooks allegedly fired staff without disclosing the organization’s financial conditions and did not notify donors or beneficiaries. Stanley was one of those people fired.
The state now claims the funds that were meant to go towards communities like Blue River, never made it out of Brooks’ hands, including donations given by Blue River neighbors.
“I am angry that my community was taken advantage of, and I am angry that they now have to worry about trusting when something else happens, because we know something else is going to happen,” Stanley said. “We hope to God it’s never anything as big or as bad as what has happened, but you know, we also have learned that groups like Locals Helping Locals…they are our foundation, and they are because they’re us.”
The state is seeking to recover the money, permanently bar Brooks from serving in a leadership role at a charitable organization and dissolve the nonprofit.
Stanley said Brooks’ actions have tainted reputations.
“We as a community and as the people from the community who helped kind of put all of these things together, we did what was asked of us,” Stanley said. “We did help clean things, and we did help get things to provide, you know, more progress and get things moving forward, and we did good work, and so I just really hope that this is not overshadowed.”
According to Stanley, Blue River’s recovery now stands at 50%.
“We will be very picky from here on out about who and what groups gets let in to help with anything,” Stanley said. “And sadly, it may be to our detriment, but he did more damage now, as far as reputations go, and for that I’m angry. I’m very angry.”
The Oregon Ducks have been progressing through the class of 2027 with hopes of landing some of their top target’s commitment on both the offense and the defense.
With many names left on the board, the Ducks have started to receive some great news, including some news from someone they have been targeting since they offered back in January of 2025.
Darius Johnson Releases His Top Four Schools
One of the Ducks top targets’ in the 2027 class at the cornerback position is Darius Johnson. Johnson recently released his top schools with Hayes Fawcett, as he is entering a crucial part of his recruitment. The four schools he has listed at the top include the California Golden Bears, Michigan Wolverines, UCLA Bruins, and the Oregon Ducks.
Johnson is one of the better cornerbacks in the country. He currently ranks as the nation’s No. 178 prospect in the country, No. 20 player at the position, and the No. 14 player in the state of California, according to Rivals. Landing his commitment would be major for any of the schools, as he is someone who could see the field early due to his size, and his growing ability to lockdown a side of the field all by himself.
More About Darius Johnson
Johnson currently measures in at 6-1 and 155 pounds, and will be someone who continues to add weight through his high school program, and will eventually have the chance to really improve his frame when he gets to college. As of now, each of the four schools has a solid chance to win its recruiting battle, but there seems to be a clear leader at this moment.
The leader for the Ducks target seems to be the Michigan Wolverines, who have the only scheduled official visit at this moment. It seems likely that the talented prospect will schedule his other official visits sooner rather than later now that he has officially cut down his list. If the Ducks want to land his commitment, they will need to get him on an official visit because they are likely trailing at this point.
What If He Committed to Oregon Today?
If he were to commit to the Ducks today, he would be the ninth commitment for the Ducks in the class of 2027. He would also be the third cornerback commit for the Ducks in the class of 2027, which is a position they have been recruiting heavily. The cornerbacks the Ducks have at this moment are four-star Ai’King Hall from the state of Alabama and four-star Josiah Molden from the state of Oregon.
Some of their other commits at this moment include four-star EDGE Rashad Streets, four-star defensive linemen Zane Rowe, and four-star EDGE Cameron Pritchett. This class is shaping up to be another top-five class if the pieces continue to fall into place for Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his staff.
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Oregon tight end Jamari Johnson, after an impressive 2025 season with the Ducks, now becomes the leader at his position following the departure of star Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL.
With an Oregon offense set to return several top stars and bring in two talents at the tight end position, Johnson looks to not only improve as a leader but build off his impressive 2025 season, in which he recorded 32 receptions for 510 yards and three touchdowns.
Here’s everything Johnson had to say during his media appearance following Oregon’s scrimmage on Saturday, with the spring game on the horizon.
Everything Tight End Jamari Johnson Said After Spring Scrimmage
What He Learned From Playing With Tight End Kenyon Sadiq:
“So many, but one is training. Everybody in this facility harps on it, and it’s just a standard here. It’s like him from last year, that man strained his guts out almost every play. I just feel like I got to do the exact same thing or even more to uphold the standard.”
Stepping Up At Tight End:
“It just changed because obviously Kenyon leaving somebody has to step up and be a leader in the room, and me being one of the older guys, it just happens to be me. I just accepted that role, and I actually kind of like it, getting these young guys going, getting them in the playbook and getting them used to college football.”
Participating Again In Spring Practice:
“It feels good coming back. Feels like I have something to prove for me personally, I feel like I haven’t really done anything in college football. I feel like this year is that year for me to show everybody what I’m about.”
On Tight Ends Kendre Harrison and Andrew Olesh:
“Both good dudes, they both got that dog in them. Andrew, he came from Penn State. He’s been coming along well, getting in the playbook. Kendre, he’s a big, tall guy, getting in the playbook too. They’ve been getting after it, man. It’s been good taking them under my wing. Hopefully, we just get going this year.”
Goals and Expectations Ahead of Spring Game:
“I’ll say one expectation that we really try to harp on in the room is just going 100 percent. That’s with your effort, that’s with knowing the plays and just giving it your all. A goal is just to get in that endzone. That’s one of the goals for the tight end room right there.”
Why He Returned to Oregon:
“Like I said earlier, to me, I felt like I haven’t really done anything in college football. That was one of the reasons, and another is I wouldn’t say I’m not ready for the NFL, but like that’s pretty much what I’m getting at, is just like I have a lot of stuff to work on that’s within footwork and hand placement, block in the run game, and route details. Getting to the right depth and just touching up everything I can so when I get to the NFL, there’s none of those problems, it’s just the big problems I have to fix.”
How Reps Helped Him Improve:
“It really helped me. Last year, we ran a lot of twelve personnel at the end of the season because we had a couple of injuries, but that really helped me. This year, I feel like I’m coming in rolling off the ground. It’s just so much more fluent, and those reps really helped me with the playbook. Playbook is way easier now, and I’m getting a good feel for it.”
His Leadership Traits:
“I like to get the guys going. I have a real voice on the field, and if y’all hear me on the field, I get the guys going. I wouldn’t say I’m a vocal leader, but I lead by example. Vocal leader, probably something I need to work on.”
On New Offensive Coordinator Drew Mehringer:
“It’s been different. They’re two different people, coach (Will) Stein and coach Drew. My guy’s getting us going. I’m excited for this season.”
Supporting Dakorien Moore At Track Meet:
“Yesterday, that touched my heart, man. Just all of us going out there, and it wasn’t even just for Dakorien. It was really for Oregon. It was just more for Dakorien because we see him every day. That really touched my heart, and the connection is just unbelievable. I don’t think many people are doing that for their teammates.”
Quarterback Dante Moore’s Growth:
“That guy has his head on his shoulders at all times. He’s been growing consistently, but it’s a couple of different things. I probably can’t name them right now, but he’s been having his head on his shoulders. He’s just been on the climb.”
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